Fungal rash on chest and feeling exhausted, should I seek help?

[TwoLeggedGrooveMachine]

In the last few days a fungal infection has appeared between my breasts and up my chest. It’s hot and prickly and surprisingly painful. I’ve had itchy feet and 3 infected toenails which I’ve been keeping at bay with OTC treatment but never known it elsewhere on my body.

I’m concerned it’s a symptom of being really run down. I’m overweight having been on the cusp of obese. I’ve lost 10kg since September so a sensible slow loss. I’m eating well, taking vitamins, doing some weights (nothing extreme), walking loads, aerobics weekly. But I’m feeling completely burnt out and exhausted. Chronic anxiety and probably depression for a few months over the winter. I’m nearly 52 and on HRT 75mg oestrogen but still suffering symptoms.

Is this my body telling me it’s time to get some help with my mental health or just a common infection and one of those things? I’m trying so hard to improve my body but this infection is making me feel minging.

You might need a prescription medication to treat it so see a GP

If it’s appeared that rapidly and is tingly it could be shingles - check with a GP as it’s best to start treatment within 48 hours if it is.

Are you sure it's a fungal infection? I thought things like athlete's foot were more likely to infect the hands or groin, but not other body parts. Maybe it's a different type of infection? Impetigo? Thrush?

@ForeverDelayedEpiphany thrush is fungal!
You can get fungal infections anywhere on the body but especially where you have folds of skin that get sweaty. My mum.is currently battling a fungal infection under her breasts and has used a couple of antifungal creams prescribed by her GP

Yes, of course, my bad lol 😆

I have to say, ever since perimenopause, I seem to be more prone to bloody athlete's foot. Maybe the decreased oestrogen affects the body's ability to fight infection 🤔

I’m pretty sure it’s fungal as I’ve been using Daktarin for a few days and it’s easing off. I tried to get an appointment at the GP this morning but they were all gone by 7.30 am so will try earlier tomorrow. It’s just weird because I wear mostly cotton apart from bras but I’m really fussy about textures on my skin so never in anything tight or sweaty. My boobs are not big and I don’t have much cleavage, sleep in a cotton t-shirt, so not really a risk area for fungus! My mood is all over the place, in tears yesterday but feeling reasonably chirpy today.

Fungal infections can sometimes indicate diabetes. It's worth seeing a GP if possible.

Definitely worth checking this out. Mood changes, overweight and out of energy sounds a bit concerning unless the lack of energy has an obvious cause like overwork or insomnia.

Meantime, @TwoLeggedGrooveMachine, try a daily shower with Hibiwash. It’s anti-fungal as well as anti-viral and antibacterial. Boots pharmacy sells it.

My GP prescribed Griseofulvin tablets which worked well, along with an anti-fungal cream, and a medium steroid for after it had mostly cleared as it triggered a skin condition I already had.

Took a couple of months but we got there.